Coffee FAQs
How do I make the perfect cup?
The key to a really good cup of coffee can be summed up in one word: freshness. It is critical to use freshly roasted, freshly ground beans. The quality of the coffee making equipment, and even the coffee itself, will be irrelevant if it is stale. The next step is to use clean equipment because grounds and coffee oils can become rancid. Use good water freshly drawn, and the purer and softer the better. Water should be used at the proper temperature - not boiling, but approximately 88c and cups and utensils should be warmed beforehand. It is also important that the correct grind of coffee is used for each method of making, see brewing methods. Never re-use coffee grounds and drink the coffee as soon as possible after it is made.
How often should I buy coffee?
We would recommend buying enough whole coffee beans to last two weeks and investing in a home grinder. This ensures that the delicate flavours are trapped inside the bean until you decide to capture them in your perfect cup of coffee. Blade grinders are suitable for most methods of making coffee but they tend to give a more uneven grind so we would suggest that burr grinders be used for making espresso based coffee. A good coffee shop can grind your coffee to your specifications, but once roasted, coffee begins to lose its aroma, and ground coffee loses it faster than whole beans.
How should I store my coffee?
Coffee is best kept in an airtight container in a cool dry place. We would not recommend the fridge as condensation forms on the container and can dampen the coffee. Alternatively, it is possible to freeze coffee in its original packaging for up to three months.
How quickly does coffee go stale?
Even the highest quality coffee will taste bad if it is not fresh. Within two weeks of roasting coffee will have lost much of the complex flavours that give it the unique aroma and taste. To counter this, at the bean shop we roast our coffee in small batches to order to ensure that it reaches you in top condition and pack it in valve bags to keep it that way.
What is air cooling?
Many of the large commercial roasters use water to cool the beans after they are roasted for speed which affects the aroma and flavour of the coffee beans. At the bean shop we only air cool our batches of coffee to preserve the delicate flavours brought out in the roasting process.
Why does the bean shop use arabica coffee beans?
Typically, many of the commercial roasters especially those producing instant coffee, use a large amount of robusta beans. Not only are they cheap to buy and harsh to the taste, but they also contain approximately double the amount of caffeine than the more refined arabica bean that we use. The bean shop source the finest quality arabica beans from around the globe.
Can I order by phone?
Yes of course you can. Just call the bean shop on 01738 449955 and either John or Lorna would be delighted to take your order. Alternatively you can email us your order to sales@thebeanshop.com and we can call you to arrange payment.
Can I send to a friend?
Yes, not a problem. We have a coffee gifts section but we are very flexible and any of our coffees, teas or gifts can be sent to an alternate address if required.
How can I pay?
We currently accept all major credit and debit cards. We use a worldpay account to ensure that your details are kept safe and secure.